poloktim
\(^o^)/
This is a work in progress, please note.
I said I would, even if the comment telling me to was facetious, so here it is. I know this helps everyone who doesn't write much essays. For those of you who need to do CSCI102 in Spring, lucky you, you get to learn this properly, not just figure it out.
All details are taken from http://unilearning.uow.edu.au and http://learning.uow.edu.au/resources/ with the latter one, you will need to authorise yourself to the system using your UoW username and password.
Lecture notes
- What's the point of having lectures?
Lectures are the main part of many subjects at university. In these lectures you will receive the vast majority of information related to the subject you are doing.
- OK then, what about tutorials? Why can't we be given that sort of information in small tutorials so that the tutor can ensure everyone knows everything?
Lectures are for students to be drenched with new information, while tutorials are for the students to discuss, explore and analyse information that may be important, or information that you don't quite understand. Also, it is important to note that any compulsory readings for the week might be discussed in tutorials. Your lecturer is more knowledged in the field than a student, so it's much more desireable to have him/her give you the information.
- Are lectures compulsory?
Not really. Many subjects have a policy such as "It is up to the student to attend classes and catch up with appropriate work/content if a class is missed." which generally means lectures aren't compulsory. However a lot of lecturers notice if you don't turn up. It's pretty amazing actually, one of my lecturers was able to learn all her students' names, even though she was the lecturer, and not a tutor. So they do know, and it's better for you if you turn up.
- How would I take notes?
One thing you shouldn't do is take down everything the lecturer says. That not only canes your hand, but it makes summarising afterwards rather undesireable. If you wish to listen to what the lecturer has to say again, then s/he might release audio files of lectures (which are very large, and great if they don't rely on lecture notes), or you can bring in a little tape recorder and tape their voices. Again, you'll have to signal when to change slides, or hope that s/he doesn't rely on notes.
Ensure you write your notes neatly enough so that you can read over and rewrite them (or summarise them). Also, use notetaking skills to keep up with the lecturer. Please remember, you only do this for your own quick notes, and try and rewrite properly when you're doing personal study.
Notetaking skills inclue:
--- Abbreviations:
---- i.e. - That is
---- eg. - For example
---- etc - et cetera
---- use numbers instead of writing the word (say one o'clock can be written as 1:00, forty million can be written as 40,000,000).
---- cutting a word short to the point of understanding (vol. is volume)
---- using recognised first letters for abbreviations such as m for metre, and cm for centimetre, and L for litre et cetera.
---- Acronyms
--- Symbols:
---- @ - at (used for price/distances)
---- > - greater than / < - less than
---- + - in addition
---- & - and
---- .'. - therefore (the apostrophe is really a dot)
---- Because is written as an upside down therefore sign
---- K - used for one thousand
---- = - equals
- I'm not really one for processing a bunch of written text, is there another way I can do it?
You should take note of what happens in lectures in a way that suits you. If you can get by just listening, then do so. However another idea to notetaking is mindmaps.
This is done by putting the main subtopic at the centre of each page, and linking each point to that, with the most important points being closest to the centre. This helps a bunch of people, but others find it confusing. Do what's best for you.
- What about after the lecture?
After the lecture, you look at your horrible abbreviated notes, and you either put them into proper written text (since it's always nicer to read something that doesn't use butchered language), or you summarise what you've got (even better). Read over it, try to understand everything. If not, write down what you don't understand, look it up in any prescribed textbooks, or www.google.com to find your answer. If you still don't understand, ask the tutor at the next tutorial.
- What do I do with it after all that?
Your lecture summaries are a valuable way to revise the subject. Before tests, tutorials, and when assignments need to be done, read and reread what you've written.
There's lectures and lecture notes done, the other sections I planned on are incomplete. They will happen, though.
I said I would, even if the comment telling me to was facetious, so here it is. I know this helps everyone who doesn't write much essays. For those of you who need to do CSCI102 in Spring, lucky you, you get to learn this properly, not just figure it out.
All details are taken from http://unilearning.uow.edu.au and http://learning.uow.edu.au/resources/ with the latter one, you will need to authorise yourself to the system using your UoW username and password.
Lecture notes
- What's the point of having lectures?
Lectures are the main part of many subjects at university. In these lectures you will receive the vast majority of information related to the subject you are doing.
- OK then, what about tutorials? Why can't we be given that sort of information in small tutorials so that the tutor can ensure everyone knows everything?
Lectures are for students to be drenched with new information, while tutorials are for the students to discuss, explore and analyse information that may be important, or information that you don't quite understand. Also, it is important to note that any compulsory readings for the week might be discussed in tutorials. Your lecturer is more knowledged in the field than a student, so it's much more desireable to have him/her give you the information.
- Are lectures compulsory?
Not really. Many subjects have a policy such as "It is up to the student to attend classes and catch up with appropriate work/content if a class is missed." which generally means lectures aren't compulsory. However a lot of lecturers notice if you don't turn up. It's pretty amazing actually, one of my lecturers was able to learn all her students' names, even though she was the lecturer, and not a tutor. So they do know, and it's better for you if you turn up.
- How would I take notes?
One thing you shouldn't do is take down everything the lecturer says. That not only canes your hand, but it makes summarising afterwards rather undesireable. If you wish to listen to what the lecturer has to say again, then s/he might release audio files of lectures (which are very large, and great if they don't rely on lecture notes), or you can bring in a little tape recorder and tape their voices. Again, you'll have to signal when to change slides, or hope that s/he doesn't rely on notes.
Ensure you write your notes neatly enough so that you can read over and rewrite them (or summarise them). Also, use notetaking skills to keep up with the lecturer. Please remember, you only do this for your own quick notes, and try and rewrite properly when you're doing personal study.
Notetaking skills inclue:
--- Abbreviations:
---- i.e. - That is
---- eg. - For example
---- etc - et cetera
---- use numbers instead of writing the word (say one o'clock can be written as 1:00, forty million can be written as 40,000,000).
---- cutting a word short to the point of understanding (vol. is volume)
---- using recognised first letters for abbreviations such as m for metre, and cm for centimetre, and L for litre et cetera.
---- Acronyms
--- Symbols:
---- @ - at (used for price/distances)
---- > - greater than / < - less than
---- + - in addition
---- & - and
---- .'. - therefore (the apostrophe is really a dot)
---- Because is written as an upside down therefore sign
---- K - used for one thousand
---- = - equals
- I'm not really one for processing a bunch of written text, is there another way I can do it?
You should take note of what happens in lectures in a way that suits you. If you can get by just listening, then do so. However another idea to notetaking is mindmaps.
This is done by putting the main subtopic at the centre of each page, and linking each point to that, with the most important points being closest to the centre. This helps a bunch of people, but others find it confusing. Do what's best for you.
- What about after the lecture?
After the lecture, you look at your horrible abbreviated notes, and you either put them into proper written text (since it's always nicer to read something that doesn't use butchered language), or you summarise what you've got (even better). Read over it, try to understand everything. If not, write down what you don't understand, look it up in any prescribed textbooks, or www.google.com to find your answer. If you still don't understand, ask the tutor at the next tutorial.
- What do I do with it after all that?
Your lecture summaries are a valuable way to revise the subject. Before tests, tutorials, and when assignments need to be done, read and reread what you've written.
There's lectures and lecture notes done, the other sections I planned on are incomplete. They will happen, though.
